Confession: several years ago, for no very good reason, I discovered the internet world of Daria fandom and began regularly visiting it. Many, many fanfic sites, at least three message boards, in which Daria trivia was hashed out and new episodes were discussed excitedly. I was impressed that this small show that MTV was putting when they felt like it, almost as an afterthought, was generating Buffy or Star Trek level fan passion -- passion most expressed in fanfic, where many writers seemed to be working out their high school issues through these characters. Fanfic that could be funny or serious, and which included horror, love stories, science fiction, DeGrassi-style issue stories, and of course, crossovers.

Eventually, the stories began to generate more discussion than the show, especially in the final seasons, when the show fell off considerably (the boyfriend they gave Daria was not popular among fans, many of whom had Trent fixations). Not Daria is gone, but apparently Daria fanfic writers are still carrying the characters forward. (if you want, see also fanfiction.net, which I will not bother linking to)posted by barjo at 5:45 PM on January 8, 2005

They gave Daria a boyfriend? Isn't that like letting Charlie Brown actually kick the football? Or more aptly, having him go steady with the Little Red-Haired Girl?posted by grouse at 6:12 PM on January 8, 2005

Not only did they give her a boyfriend, but she pretty much stole him from Claire.posted by drezdn at 9:25 PM on January 8, 2005

My best friend in high school lived on Trent Lane. To me, this remains awesome.posted by sdrawkcab at 11:10 PM on January 8, 2005

i still can't get over the bad casting for this. jennifer love hewitt as daria? wtf?posted by pxe2000 at 5:40 AM on January 9, 2005

The last season or so of Daria went from being a show with some incisive commentary and humor to being, well, a soap opera.posted by dagnyscott at 11:21 AM on January 9, 2005

eww, no. sarah vowell is le stink. she reminds me of a baby in a high chair who thinks everything outside of her eggers-approved candy diet is stinky. ew, ew, ew.posted by maura at 1:21 PM on January 9, 2005

*looks guilty* I'm one of those hard core Daria fans, though I've fallen off the fanfic. I even know the guy that wrote that page - and there was much debate (and disgust) over the "casting"...posted by medea42 at 8:27 PM on January 9, 2005

true. la ricci is not fit to lick the boots of the ever-perfect jane lane.posted by UbuRoivas at 4:01 PM on January 10, 2005

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